Top court starts review of Park's impeachment
Constitutional Court President Park Han-chul, left, and Justice Kang Il-won walk into the Constitutional Court in Jongno, central Seoul, Sunday, to review the impeachment motion filed against President Park Geun-hye. / Yonhap
By Lee Kyung-min
As the Constitutional Court is set to review whether President Park Geun-hye should step down permanently, securing evidence including witness statements and relevant documents is expected to be the most critical factor.
While justices can exercise authority, in theory, to question witnesses and request evidence to be submitted and authenticated, President Park is not likely to appear before the court proceedings.
Unlike the prosecution, which has the authority to question suspects and impose punitive measures when they fail to comply, the Constitutional Court has no measures for the subjects of deliberation in such cases.
Determining admissibility of evidence is another major sticking point.
No evidence is allowed in the Constitutional Court unless agreed upon both by President Park and the chief of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Rep. Kweon Seong-dong of the Saenuri Party, who will defend against the impeachment during the court hearings. Also, evidence submitted for ongoing criminal trials at the Seoul Central District Court is inadmissible.
However, other witnesses besides Park, including key former and incumbent aides to Park and business leaders, are likely to appear for the hearings to testify on allegations of influence-peddling, abuse of power, extortion and coercion.
Given that Park agreed to face-to-face questioning requested by the independent counsel-led prosecution, her statements to the team are likely to be used as evidence.
The district court’s ruling on three key figures involved in the influence-peddling scandal — Jeong Ho-seong, An Chong-bum and Park’s confidant Choi Soon-sil — could be used as reference.
Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court justices and personnel there are dedicating their full efforts in preparing for the review of the impeachment motion, following the passage of a motion to impeach Park at the National Assembly, Friday.
Justice Kang Il-won, who was named as the chief justice of the case, returned home after cutting his trip to Venice short. He arrived here on Saturday at 4 p.m., and came to work at 11:10 a.m. on Sunday. Chief Justice Park Han-chul also came to work at 10:40 a.m. on Sunday.
The court officials plan to hold an emergency meeting of justices, today, to discuss a hearing plan. It said the first one may begin as early as the end of the month.
Under review will be whether Park violated both the Constitution and related laws by letting Choi meddle in state affairs despite not having a title or function in the Park administration, granting Choi access to classified state secrets, extorting money from conglomerates to benefit Choi and not being on official duty on the day of the Sewol ferry disaster.
The court requested the President submit her defense in writing by Dec. 16, as a preliminary procedure prior to the official hearing commencing.